Principal Investigator(s):
Andrews, Gary R., Flinders University of South Australia. Centre for Ageing Studies;
Myers, George C., Flinders University of South Australia. Centre for Ageing Studies

Summary:

The general purpose of the Australian [Adelaide]
Longitudinal Study of Aging (ALSA) is to gain further understanding of
how social, biomedical, and environmental factors are associated with
age-related changes in the health and well-being of persons aged 70
years and older. Emphasis is given to the effects of social and
economic factors on morbidity, disability, acute and long-term care
service use, and mortality. The aim is to analyze the complex
relationships between individual and social factors and changes in
health status, health care needs, and service utilization
dimensions. Components of Wave 6 (1999-2000) (Part 1) include a
comprehensive personal interview conducted via the Computer-Assisted
Personal Interview (CAPI) system, a home-based assessment of
physiological functions, self-completed questionnaires, and additional
clinical studies. In Part 2, Wave 6 Clinical Data, information about
the health histories of the respondents was elicited, including
information on medication, blood pressure, and physical and mental
disabilities.

The general purpose of the Australian [Adelaide]
Longitudinal Study of Aging (ALSA) is to gain further understanding of
how social, biomedical, and environmental factors are associated with
age-related changes in the health and well-being of persons aged 70
years and older. Emphasis is given to the effects of social and
economic factors on morbidity, disability, acute and long-term care
service use, and mortality. The aim is to analyze the complex
relationships between individual and social factors and changes in
health status, health care needs, and service utilization
dimensions. Components of Wave 6 (1999-2000) (Part 1) include a
comprehensive personal interview conducted via the Computer-Assisted
Personal Interview (CAPI) system, a home-based assessment of
physiological functions, self-completed questionnaires, and additional
clinical studies. In Part 2, Wave 6 Clinical Data, information about
the health histories of the respondents was elicited, including
information on medication, blood pressure, and physical and mental
disabilities.

Access Notes

The public-use data files in this collection are available for access by the general public.
Access does not require affiliation with an ICPSR member institution.

Universe:
Persons aged 70 and older living in the metropolitan area
of Adelaide, South Australia.

Data Type(s):
administrative records data,
clinical data,
survey data

Methodology

Sample:
The sample was randomly generated from within the Adelaide
Statistical Division using the State Electoral Data Base as the
sampling frame. The sample was stratified by gender and by the age
groups 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, and 85 and older. Both community and
institutionalized individuals were included. In addition, spouses aged
65 and older of specified persons also were invited to participate, as
were other household members aged 70 years and older.

Extent of Processing: ICPSR data undergo a confidentiality review and are altered when necessary to limit the risk of
disclosure. ICPSR also routinely creates ready-to-go data files along with setups in the major
statistical software formats as well as standard codebooks to accompany the data. In addition to
these procedures, ICPSR performed the following processing steps for this data collection:

Performed recodes and/or calculated derived variables.

Version(s)

Original ICPSR Release: 2003-07-25

Version History:

2006-01-18 File CB3679.ALL.PDF was removed from any previous datasets and flagged as a study-level file, so that it will accompany all downloads.